Parenting

THE NATION’S IMMUNE SYSTEM

On two recent motorcycle trips, one to El Paso and the other to my hometown of Sylacauga, Alabama, I decided to avoid the interstates, take state and county roads instead and get a feel for some parts of the rural South.  On both occasions I was struck with the number of churches along the way – hundreds of them.  Many of them had roadside signs with admonitions, encouraging statements or invitations:  “Looking for a church family?  Try us!”  or “The man who is not ready to die is not ready to live.”  They had names that included certain qualities of the Faith, like, well, “Faith”, and “Hope”, “Grace” and “Abundant Life.”  Many of them were named “New” something or other:  “New Life”, “New Hope” or “New Beginnings.”  One was named “New Morning Star Baptist Church.”  Another was named “Mt. Nebo”, the mountain from which Moses looked over into the Promised Land, and on which he died.  One church that particularly seemed to invite me to stop and take a nap under the shade of its live oaks [which I did] was, appropriately enough, named “Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church.”   I rested well there.

I’ve heard people make disparaging or scornful statements about the “Bible Belt.”  I felt very encouraged by all those churches.  I know that, in them, every Sunday, children are being taught to respect and obey their parents and elders.  Husbands and wives are being taught to be faithful and kind to their mates.  Parents are encouraged to care for their children.  And all are being taught to live the “Golden Rule” - to treat others the way they want to be treated.  Jesus said the Word of God is to the world like yeast is to dough:  a little goes a long way to enhance the quality.  All those people in all those churches hear the Word of God – the wonderful teachings of Jesus – then they go out into their communities with the Light of it shining in their hearts.  They are not perfect, of course, but how can they not be a little better, week after week?  A little better at loving the people in their communities.  When I stop and talk to some of these gentle, friendly people, I imagine that they – or perhaps their parents or neighbors – attend one of those churches.  I feel comforted.  I am at home.  I am among my people.  I am among God’s family.

Lord, thank You for making us a true family.  May Your body of Believers – the Church – continue to flourish and prosper, and protect our world from evil.

by Mark Graham

September 2006

The Rogue Elephants

       Elephants are fascinating creatures. A few years ago Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa was having a problem with the increasing violence of its young bull elephants. These juvenile elephants were knocking over white rhinos, kneeling on them, then goring them to death. This is unusual for elephants.

       The game wardens finally realized the problem. This new aggressive behavior was caused by a government program that killed older elephants to reduce the population. Almost all of the young rogue elephants were orphaned when they were calves. Normally the older dominant males keep the young bulls in line and serve as role models. Without their guidance and discipline, these “thug elephants” grew up to terrorize the herd.

       Our prisons are filled with men who grew up with hardly any contact with a loving father. Zig Ziegler, a motivational speaker quoted his friend Bill Glass who has worked with inmates for over twenty five years. Rev. Glass said, “of the thousands of prisoners he had met, not one of them genuinely loved his dad.” “Ninety-five percent of those on death row hated their fathers,” according to Dave Simmons, author of, Dad, the Family Counselor.

       This next generation needs male leadership. One of the things I enjoy at the motocross races is watching all the Dads do their jobs. They not only help lead their own kids, but pitch in to help the other kids as well.

       Is there some boy who could use some extra attention from you today? Maybe he lives down the street. Maybe he is a relative. Maybe he lives with a friend. Maybe he lives under your roof. Invest some time and attention into the life of a child this week. You may change his life.

Scripture of the Day: “those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.” (Job 29:11-12)

Quote for the Day: “Viewing the child solely as an immature person is a way of escaping confronting him.” (Clark Moustakas, Creativity and Conformity)